Tuesday, July 31, 2007

I'll be the first to admit that while I enjoy vampire novels, some more than others provided they're not too graphic or gory, and if they have the requisite happy ending, I don't watch vampire movies or television shows. I think that may be changing in the near future! I saw a brief clip last night between CSI and the evening news for a new show in September called Moonlight. I've thought about it a lot since then and found myself intrigued enough to go searching for more info, something I seldom do, as I'm not just a huge television watcher.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

I'll be chatting up Janice Maynard's IMPROPER ETIQUETTE and Sasha White's TROUBLE in the very near future. I hope you'll stop back for those!

What is everyone up to this summer? Any trips? New clothes? Fun reads? Anything illegal or immoral? LOL Our vacation has come and gone, but I've planned the rest of my vacation time to make some extra long weekends, and hate to admit it, but I'm already looking forward to them!

My birthday came and went last week without much fanfare, which at my age is preferred! I just realized that I failed to get a new driver's license, which I need to do. Remembered it on the actual day, then went to lunch and had stuff doing the next couple of days that prevented me from doing it. Thought about going today, but my hair isn't looking it's best, so I decided not to. I'm not sure Tim would understand if I were to get picked up and given a big, fat ticket for an unexpired license - just because my hair didn't look as good as I'd like for the picture!

Give me a shout - let me know what's going on, and whether I should be jealous of you and your summer doings!!Laurie

I’ve loved Erin McCarthy’s (http://www.erinmccarthy.net/) books from the time I read her very first release many years ago. One of my all-time favorite books, and undoubtedly my absolute favorite Erin McCarthy book is HEIRESS FOR HIRE, one of the most heart-wrenching stories I’ve ever read. Erin is one of the sweetest people you could ever want to meet and is truly appreciative of each and every one of her readers; I always look forward to spending time with her. Erin’s books always have an abundance of charm; a perfect mix of humor and romance. MY IMMORTAL is no exception, even if the humor is a little more subtle and the romance darkly erotic.

Here's a blurb from Erin's website:

In the late 18th century, a spoiled, selfish plantation owner struck an unholy bargain with a fallen angel: an eternity of servitude for the gift of immortality. For over two hundred years, Damien du Bourg has held up his end of the bargain—by inspiring lust in everyone around him…Stumbling upon Damien’s plantation on the outskirts of New Orleans while searching for her missing sister, Marley Turner enters a world of shocking decadence. Drawn to the tortured man at the center of it all, Marley feels a powerful sensuality stirring inside her. For the first time, it’s Damien who can’t resist the lure of a woman. But his past sins aren’t ready to be forgotten—or forgiven…I was excited to have the opportunity to read an ARC of MY IMMORTAL, and am pleased to share the following review:When Marley Turner’s sister Lizzie disappears in New Orleans, leaving a vague message that she’s recently been to an adult party at the home of Damien du Bourg, Marley begins her search for her sister at his property. Marley finds Damien very distracting, very seductive, and very dangerous; a combination that has her instantly wary, but when Damien generously offers to assist in her search, she has no choice but to graciously accept. Damien’s first course of action is to have another adult party, where anything and everything – anywhere – goes, but he forbids Marley from attending. Marley, in her desperation to find her sister, sneaks in anyway, witnessing sexual deviancy that she never could have imagined. Surprisingly, she also found herself undeniably aroused. When Marley and Damien begin a romantic relationship, she soon discovers that he has been living under a curse since the eighteenth century, a story so incredulous that she can barely get her mind around it.Damien has been cursed to inspire pleasure to those around him, and as miserable as he has been through the years, he has never regretted it as much as after he meets Marley and finds himself actually picturing what a future with her could be. She is everything a man could possibly want in a woman, beautiful, kind and considerate, passionately sensual; simply too sweet to be true. He regrets that he can only dream of being with her, and once she finds out the truth about the curse, he knows their relationship is doomed.MY IMMORTAL is one of those books that stay with you long after you finish. I didn’t start another book for about three days after finishing, while absorbing and thinking about the beautiful story. It is darkly erotic, sizzling with steamy sensuality, and visits into the past by way of a packet of letters provide insight to the man Damien was so many years before. Erin McCarthy has written a brilliant story with MY IMMORTAL, and while Damien’s curse is certainly cruel, the story wrapped around it is irresistibly sinful and arousing.

I can easily recommend this book to all romance readers – below is a link to Amazon so you can slip over and order your own copy!

Sunday, July 15, 2007

I recently reviewed RISKING IT ALL by Stephanie Tyler http://www.stephanietyler.com/ on behalf of Romance Junkies. I enjoyed it very much and recommend that readers pick up COMING UNDONE, Ms. Tyler's previous Blaze, which introduces these wonderful characters! That doesn't mean that RISKING IT ALL doesn't stand on its own, because it does so very capably, but I think anytime you have a book where some of the characters are introduced earlier, it's more enjoyable to read them in order. This is one of those "do as I say and not as I do" instances, because anyone who visits here regularly knows that I am repeatedly reading series books out of order.Here is my review of RISKING IT ALL:She thinks he’s an adrenaline junkie, a risk-taking surfer, but he’s really an undercover Navy SEAL. When he is assigned to be her escort for several days, it doesn't take long before sparks are flying.When Rina Calhoun sees footage of surfer John “Cash” Cashman, she knows it is perfect for her extreme sports documentary. Trouble is, the photographer neglected to have Cash sign a release form, without which the film is useless. Rina’s entire career depends on this documentary and there’s not much she won’t do to make it legit. It isn’t long before the two share a heated night together, but Cash was gone when Rina woke in the morning. Rina went on to her next assignment and couldn’t be more surprised when she’s sent to film a documentary for the Navy and Cash is assigned to be her escort around the base.None of the SEAL team is overly cooperative with Rina, insisting on total anonymity for all of them. Cash never dreamed he would have the feelings for Rina that he did, but they were there staring him in the face and he would just have to deal with them. Cash soon discovers that there are painful issues from his past he must come to terms with before he can consider a future with Rina.Rina and Cash are perfect for each other, something that readers will realize long before Rina and Cash, guaranteeing a fun ride. Stephanie Tyler has written a touching romance with spark and sizzle that is easy to recommend. Ms. Tyler’s previous Blaze, COMING UNDONE, first introduced Cash and made readers want his story to be told; his story was well worth the wait.Now then, if you're totally jazzed about this book, which I hope you are, here's a link to Amazon where you can pick up your own copy! http://www.amazon.com/Risking-Harlequin-Blaze-Stephanie-Tyler/dp/0373793316/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-2381367-0694212?ie=UTF8&s=books&sr=1-1Thanks for stopping by!Laurie

Saturday, July 14, 2007

Well, another Damron Family Vacation is in the books! We didn't go south this year as we usually do. We went to Niagara Falls for three days and had a great time. There's a huge difference between Niagara Falls and Savannah - it's much closer, just a little over five hours, you don't have to go through customs for a visit to the south, but the most notable difference was the temperature - it was a smidge on the cool side during the day and downright chilly in the evening. We stayed at the Marriott in the Fallsview area, and the above picture of the falls was taken out of our hotel window, a view that was nothing short of spectacular.

Tim and I have been to the falls twice before, most recently about 20 years ago when Lindsay was just a couple of years old. Now the girls have both seen them and I have to admit that it will probably be the last time that Tim and I visit there. We had a great time and it is a beautiful site, but gee whiz it's an expensive place to visit. I realize that all resort areas are pricey, but the prices we had to pay in the restaurants were downright ridiculous. We had burgers at a TGIFridays on our first afternoon, with Linny and I drinking water and the bill was over $80.

What are your vacation plans this summer? I hope some of you will share your favorite places to visit and let us know why you enjoy them so much.

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

I’m sure you all know by now that I consider Lori Foster http://www.lorifoster.com/ a dear friend – that’s why I feel especially lousy about being so late in chatting up her latest release (it's out today!), SIMON SAYS. My sincerest apologies, Lori.SIMON SAYS is the story of Simon Evans, a trainer in the SBC fighting league, who is busy conditioning himself back into fighting shape, and Dakota Dream, a gutsy heroine who is in a fight of her own, struggling to put past mistakes and hurts behind her in an effort to get on with her life.Here’s my review of SIMON SAYS:As part of a blackmail scheme by her no-good stepfather, Dakota Dream must convince supreme trainer/fighter Simon “Sublime” Evans to go visit the despicable man, who happens to be Simon’s estranged father. Because her stepfather claims to have something left to her by her late mother, Dakota feels something close to desperation to make the visit take place. The connection between Dakota and Simon is practically instantaneous, but Simon has no interest in meeting with his father. When Dakota is attacked, Simon is more determined than ever to keep her safe.Dakota is nothing like any of Simon’s former girlfriends and he doesn’t quite know what to make of her. She’s independently capable of taking care of herself but there’s an underlying vulnerability that he wants to better understand.Events in Simon’s past have caused him to trust few people, and when a misunderstanding causes him to distrust Dakota and make some downright ugly accusations, she is torn between crushing pain and seething anger.Dakota isn’t your average heroine. She’s kick-ass tough without compromise to her femininity. She hasn’t led a charmed existence and the harsh realities of life have given her strength and courage. Those are just a couple of the qualities that have drawn Simon to her. Simon is an interesting character himself, and like most of Lori’s heroes, he has the machismo to be a real man’s man, but add a soft touch of incredibly smooth charm and he’s the quintessential ladies’ man.Lori Foster successfully tugs readers into this story from the start and when characters from Causing Havoc, the previous book in this series, make an appearance, it is an added bonus. Just like all of Lori’s readers, I’m looking forward to the next book in this intriguing series.

God Bless America, Land that I love.Stand beside her, and guide her,Thru the night with a light from above.From the mountains, to the prairies,To the oceans, white with foam.God bless America, My home sweet home.

I love the Fourth of July and all of the celebrations that go along with it. I always have. When I was in elementary school, I marched in the parades in our little city with either the Girl Scouts or a baton twirling group I was in. Man, did I think that was big stuff! I still love to watch parades, but now I watch with adult/mother's eyes, getting teary-eyed when Kelsey's high school band marches by playing all of those patriotic songs (she's playing the piccolo this marching season), getting teary-eyed when I see the veterans ride by in convertibles, and getting teary-eyed over all of the kids proudly riding their little bikes decorated with streamers and flags. Tim teases that he doesn't know why I love parades so much when all I do is cry while I'm watching them. It's pitiful, I know.Does anyone have an exciting plans for the holiday? We will be going to the parade, and then my cousin has invited us to their house for a cookout. I'm so excited! I love to fix food for get togethers, but especially for the 4th because I can use all of my patriotic serving dishes. They live in the country and hope to have fireworks, weather permitting. We frequently go to the concert that our local symphony orchestra puts on and then to the fireworks, but it doesn't look like the weather is going to cooperate in our area tomorrow for outdoor activities.My office is closing on the 4th, 5th and 6th for the holiday - pretty incredible - and I'm on vacation until July 17, so I have an extra long break. I can't tell you how excited I am to have that much time off.I hope you all have a wonderful holiday, but however you choose to celebrate our nation's birthday, please be careful and keep yourself safe. The roads will be busy and there will be a lot of people celebrating.Hugs,Laurie

About Me

I've been married for 34 years (yes, Hub robbed the cradle), have two beautiful daughters, 23 and 28. We have a basset hound, Simon, and three cats, Sophie, Tony and Penny. I work full-time as a legal assistant. I enjoy reading, baking and walking. I write book reviews for the online review site, Romance Junkies.

PLEASE NOTE . . .

It is the responsibility of anyone who enters a contest on my blog to stop back and find out if they're a winner. I will not attempt to track you down. If I don't hear from a winner within the number of days specified when the winner is announced, I will draw a new name.